Real Madrid were beaten by Wolfsburg in first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Volkswagen Arena. Cristiano Ronaldo and Co, were stunned by strikes from Ricardo Rodriguez and Maximilian Arnold in serious blow to their Champions League ambitions.
Ricardo Rodriguez opened the scoring with a penalty after Casemiro fouled Andre Schurrle in the area.
Maximilian Arnold doubled the Bundesliga club's lead after anoter lapse of concentration from Madrid's defence
What a difference four days make – there were no dressing room selfies in the Volkswagen Arena for Real Madrid after they went down 2-0 in Germany and now face possible Champions League elimination.
They started the game with a confident post-Clasico swagger but limped out of it having completely under-estimated the team currently placed eighth in the Bundesliga.
Gareth Bale was comfortably Real Madrid’s best player but Julian Draxler was in inspired form for the home side and Zinedine Zidane had lined his team up with no apparent plan as to how to contain him with Danilo back in the side at right-back and having a night to forget.
Ricardo Rodriguez opened the scoring for Wolfsburg from the penalty spot after Casemiro had fouled Andre Schurrle
Wolfsburg players were in what could be described as dreamland after Maximilian Arnold doubled the hosts' lead in the first-half
Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema showed their dejection after suffering blow to their European hopes
HOW THEY LINE UP
Wolfsburg:
Benaglio, Vieirinha, Naldo, Dante, Rodriguez, Guilavogui, Gustavo, Bruno Henrique (Trasch), Arnold, Draxler, Schurrle.
Subs: Casteels, Schafer, Ascues, Kruse, Dost, Knoche.
Booked: Vieirinha, Gustavo, Arnold. Benaglio
Goals: Rodriguez (pen) 18', Arnold 25'
Real Madrid:
Subs: Casteels, Schafer, Ascues, Kruse, Dost, Knoche.
Booked: Vieirinha, Gustavo, Arnold. Benaglio
Goals: Rodriguez (pen) 18', Arnold 25'
Real Madrid:
Navas, Danilo, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Modric (Isco), Casemiro, Kroos (Rodriguez), Bale, Benzema (Jese), Ronaldo.
Subs: Casilla, Nacho, Carvajal, Lucas.
Booked: Bale
Referee: Gianluca Rocchi (Italy)
Subs: Casilla, Nacho, Carvajal, Lucas.
Booked: Bale
Referee: Gianluca Rocchi (Italy)
Madrid started brightly with Bale and Ronaldo running amok. Ronaldo had the ball in the net but was harshly flagged offside when he looked level with the last defender and Bale cut in from the right and had a penalty claim turned down. He then popped up on the left to cross for Ronaldo at the near post only for Diego Benaglio to smother at the Portuguese forward's his feet.
Wolfsburg threatened on the break and when Draxler got away down the left he crossed and Bruno Henrique tested Keylor Navas with a volley.
The bad news for Madrid was that Benezma had twisted his knee earlier on and needed treatment. He might have scored from Casemiro's fine through pass but his effort was saved by Benaglio and Jese was sent to warm up as the Frenchman continued to grimace.
Real still had the early control and it was only being broken by Draxler’s running down the Madrid right. It was from another of his breakaways that Wolfsburg’s goal came. He crossed for André Schürrle who appeared to trip himself up under pressure from Casemiro and referee Gianluca Rocchi pointed to the spot.
The penalty was debatable but the execution was not with Ricardo Rodriguez emphatically sending Navas the wrong way.
It ended Navas' 736 minutes without conceding in the Champions League and no sooner had Madrid let in their first goal of the tournament than the second one arrived. Draxler again dazzled down the left with no one closing him down. He switched the play to the right where Henrique crossed for Maximilian Arnold to score past Navas.
Madrid tried to compose themselves and Bale crossed brilliantly from the left but Benzema sent his header wide of the far post. The Frenchman was still struggling and it was mystery why Madrid had not made a change.
In the early exchanges, Real Madrid talisman Cristiano Ronaldo stabs the ball home for what he believes is the opening goal after two minutes. Minutes later, Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated scoring before the goal was disallowed. Television replays show the Portuguese superstar was marginally offside before he slotted home from close range.
The world's most expensive player Bale unsuccessfully appeals for a penalty after being upended by Gustavo
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane watched the match from the sidelines with disappointment.
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane watched the match from the sidelines with disappointment.
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